Deploying the Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) in Iowa

Project Details
STATUS

Completed

PROJECT NUMBER

02-129

START DATE

12/01/02

END DATE

11/30/03

FOCUS AREAS

Safety

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, CTRE, CWIMS
SPONSORS

Federal Highway Administration
Iowa Department of Transportation

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Stephen Andrle
Co-Principal Investigator
Dennis Kroeger

About the research

Adverse weather conditions dramatically affect the nation’s surface transportation system. The development of a prototype winter Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) is part of the Federal Highway Administration’s effort to produce a prototype tool for decision support to winter road maintenance managers to help make the highways safer for the traveling public. The MDSS is based on leading diagnostic and prognostic weather research capabilities and road condition algorithms, which are being developed at national research centers.

In 2003, the Iowa Department of Transportation was chosen as a field test bed for the continuing development of this important research program. The Center for Transportation Research and Education assisted the Iowa Department of Transportation by collecting and analyzing surface condition data. The Federal Highway Administration also selected five national research centers to participate in the development of the prototype MDSS. It is anticipated that components of the prototype MDSS system developed by this project will ultimately be deployed by road operating agencies, including state departments of transportation, and generally supplied by private vendors.

 

 

TOP